Microsoft phone scam reaches area residents

by jmaloni

Fri, Sep 21st 2012 09:40 pm

by John M. Curtin

At
6:44 p.m. on Sept. 9, Lewiston police were called to a Saunders
Settlement Road home after getting a report of suspected fraudulent
activity. The complainant had received a phone call from an alleged
employee of Microsoft, who actually went so far as to give a fake
employee identification number. After convincing the complainant that
his computer had a virus, the suspect lead him to turn on the Remote
Assistance feature of Windows, allowing full access to the computer.
After removing several personal documents, the complainant's
computer crashed.

According
to the Lewiston Police Department, this isn't the only report of
suspected fraudulent activity recently. These recent reports are
actually among the newest additions to a long line of similar cases
that have been victimizing computer owners nationally for over a
year.

In
the typical case, the fraudulent caller announces him or herself as
being from the Windows Service Center, and explains some important
error that is wrong with the victim's computer. The caller then
proceeds to convince the victim into giving full access to the
computer, or spending a large sum of money on a fake anti-virus
program. Usually these ploys are designed to acquire credit card
information, plant real viruses, and/or to steal valuable files.

Several
simple facts however, will protect anyone from being hacked. A check
with Microsoft finds that there isn't such a thing as the "Windows
Service Center." Microsoft, the makers of the Windows operating
systems, only provides technical support and computer software
updates if requested by the consumer.

Assuming
for the moment, that any given computer had a virus or something
internally wrong, there would be virtually no way for Microsoft to
know before a consumer was to give computer access to technical
support. Although Microsoft has developed anti-spyware programs that
are free for the public to download, none of them come with
one-on-one customer support or personal alerts in the event of a
virus infection. These programs are fully automated and in truth only
work to a certain extent. This is why it is always prudent to
purchase anti-virus software from a store or online sources. Many of
these come with personal customer service and can monitor systems
much more closely.

It
is actually more likely for a consumer to call Microsoft, than for
Microsoft to call a consumer. Unless having to do with an outstanding
order/purchase, there are not many reasons for Microsoft to randomly
contact someone.

Microsoft
tells the public to always treat calls, especially like these, "as
if you were talking to a complete stranger." It is advisable to
hang up if such a phone call is received, and never give access to a
personal computer without establishing absolute credentials. More
information about virus and hacking prevention can be found on the
company's website: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us.